<title>Methods of cross polarization OCT</title>

Abstract

We consider methods of cross polarization optical coherence tomography (OCT) using the polarization-maintaining (PM) and the single-mode (SM) fibers that can give additional information about biotissue. A cross-polarized optical coherence tomography (CP OCT) system based on Michelson interferometer with PM fiber uses natural orthogonally polarized waves to form two channels receiving scattered light in initial (linear) polarization and in the orthogonal polarization. A novel cross-polarized optical coherence tomography (CP OCT) system is developed, which is based on standard isotropic single-mode fiber. We exploit the property of an arbitrary pair of orthogonal waves propagating in a single-mode fiber to maintain their orthogonality in the absence of anisotropy losses, regardless of induced phase anisotropy. The well-known isotropic fiber based OCT scheme that commonly comprises an optical probe with a Fizeau interferometer and a compensating Michelson interferometer with Faraday mirrors is modified. We introduce an additional optical element to form the initial radiation into two mutually time-delayed and coherent waves that have strictly orthogonal polarizations.